Water Conservation Ordinance Pending

(posted Nov 23)

There are still a few issues that need to be worked out before the City County Council will begin the process of voting to enact a water conservation ordinance. Jo Lynn Garing, Director of Communications for Indianapolis Water, explained the proposed ordinance will implement water conservation practices during times of drought or other emergencies, such as mechanical problems with a plant. The ordinance provides for a declaration of a water emergency or water warning, depending upon the water levels in the city's reservoirs. The City of Indianapolis owns Geist and Morse Reservoirs.

If the water level is at 50 percent of the draw down capacity, letters will go out with water bills to notify customers that a warning has been issued. A warning prohibits most lawn and garden watering except for vegetable gardens every other day. A water emergency will be declared when the water levels are down by 75 percent. At that point, vegetable gardens can only be watered manually from containers or sprinkler hose. Exemptions include golf course greens and tees, which may be watered every other day, automatic car washes and nurseries. Golf course fairways may only be watered on Thursdays.

Garing said conservation is necessary to preserve creek flows that are regulated by water released from the reservoirs. Water released from Geist feeds into Fall Creek, which supplies one of the two treatment plants that process the city's drinking water. Morse Reservoir releases water into Cicero Creek that connects to White River.

Although the city receives water from Eagle Creek at the 56th Street plant, Garing said Eagle Creek is a flood control reservoir, and it is not controlled by the city.

She indicated conservation is needed to protect the water pressure in case of fires.

The ordinance does not apply to the excluded cities, but the city would would like the surrounding areas to adopt similar conservation ordinances.

Garing said it is rare for Indiana to have droughts, stating the proposed ordinance would have only been used three times since 1985 if it had been in effect.

Garing expects the council to hear the ordinance by January.